NFL Divisional Playoffs Picks

I’ll be meeting up with the New England Sports Fan Friend this weekend to watch football, and I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully the Patriots will win, and our visit will be calm and victorious. Anyway, here are my picks for this weekend’s games, with the winning teams in caps.

New Orleans at SEATTLE — New Orleans pulled out an impressive win last week against the Eagles. But they’ll struggle against a tough, defensive-minded Seattle team with home field advantage. Plus, I’ve picked the Seahawks to win every week except week 1. Why stop now?

Indianapolis at NEW ENGLAND — Colts QB Andrew Luck engineered an amazing comeback last weekend against the Chiefs. But don’t expect a similar performance this weekend against the Patriots. The Patriots will be playing at home, with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, and they will be too much for up-and-coming Indianapolis to overcome. Of course, I pick the Pats to win every week, and plan to keep doing so.

SAN FRANCISCO at Carolina — I like the Panthers, but the 49ers are playing at full strength (unlike week 10, when Carolina beat them) and have won seven games in a row. After this weekend, they’ll have won eight.

San Diego at DENVER — I wouldn’t rule out a Chargers upset, but I can’t bring myself to bet against Denver. And doesn’t it seem like the Patriots and Broncos are fated to meet, and that we’ll once be subjected to a debate over who’s the better quarterback, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning?